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Safety Tips for Seniors

Many seniors get hurt while at home. A few years ago, my grandmother fell down a flight of stairs at her elderly apartment complex and broke her hip. It is important for seniors to be proactive to try to avoid getting injured. Here are some tips on how to prevent injuries at home.

Address Potential Safety Threats in the Bathroom

My mother-in-law slipped a few years ago while getting out of the bath tub. Seniors often have issues with coordination and balance. One way to address this issue is to apply appliqués to the bottom of the bathtub. These provide grip and traction. They are very inexpensive and can be easily removed if necessary.

It can also help to install shower chairs, tub handles and bath mats that have suction cups on the bottom of them. Seniors should keep a set of flip flops near the edge of the tub so that when they dry off, they can put shoes on and not risk slipping when exiting the bathroom.

Reduce Clutter in the Home

Many seniors fall because they have too much clutter in the rooms in their homes or apartments. It is important for people to remove unnecessary items from the home. There should be a clear path way so that people do not bump into things and trip when they are walking around.

Do Not Put Items Too High Up

People often place items in top cabinets where they are hard to reach. This often means that seniors need to climb on a step stool or chair to retrieve the items which can be dangerous. It is important for individuals to plan out where items will be stored so that they can be easily accessed.

Ask for Help

Seniors often can be too afraid to ask for help when something is too heavy to carry. This can become a safety issue as people can fall down, get a hernia or have a very serious injury. Seniors should plan ahead when making large purchases and ask for help from family members, friends, neighbors and other trusted individuals when a task proves to be too physically demanding.

Sign Up for a Medical Emergency Monitoring Service

Older men and women can become ill or injured at any time. This is why it is very beneficial to sign up for a medical emergency monitoring service. People can wear a pendant around their necks and then press a button which instantly calls the service. The dispatcher will talk to the individual if possible and then send out an ambulance to the home if necessary.